Work holder



11.29; 1946. HLUNG I 2,393,806

WORK HOLDER Filed Nov. 24, 194: 2 Sheets-Shee't 1 I [/1 V6 for flan/r E. P/l/ing Affomey F. E. PILLING WORK HOLDER Filed Nov. 24. 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m W w M y .4, r4 7% 3 3 5 3 0 /4 /wv 4 aw/ 3 lz w w M m Patented Jan. 29, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? worm nonnan Frank, E. lilling, Lynwood, Calif. Application November 24, 1943, Serial No. 511,631

4 Claims. (Cl. 279--54) This invention has 'to do with a work holder and has particular reference to a device applicable to the spindle of a lathe, or the like, for holding work, and it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved simplifled and highly eflicient device of the character mentioned.

Various forms of work holding devices have been proposed and used in combination with the spindles of lathes or other like machines; A common form of such work holder involves a collet or gripping device operable to be tightened onto a member to be worked on. Most devices of the character mentioned have involved comlicated or cumbersome mechanisms for operating the collets and when such mechanisms have been applied to hollow spindle lathes it has been common to operate them. through a control member projecting out through the rear end of the lathe spindle. It will be immediatelyapparent that any control device or other part required to operate through the lathe spindle cuts down the effective size of the spindle or. in other words, limits the size of work that can be handled through the spindle.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a collet type work holder applicable to a hollow operating spindle and operable by the operator of the machine without resort to control members, or the like, operating through the spindle. By my present invention I provide a collet type work holder operable by a simple lever applied to the head of the lathe or other like part, and I eliminate entirely the usual system of levers, rods, pivots, etc., incidental to a control system operating a, work holder through a hollow spindle.

Another object of my invention is to provide a collet type work holder in which the collet is operated through a highly eflicient, compact and dependable mechanism. By my invention I eliminate the usual pivoted levers provided for working a collet and I have provided an arrangement of parts which is compact and simple.

Another object of my invention is to provide, a collet type work holder of the character mentioned which involves an extremely simple and efiective means of adjustment whereby the gripping action of the collet can be quickly and accurately adjusted to accommodate the particular work being handled. 4

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the followin detailed description of a typical preferred, form and application of my 1 invention, throughout which description reference is made to companying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the mechanism provided by my invention showing it applied to a typical lathe spindle projecting from the head t ac-' of the lathe. Fig. 2 is a face or end viewof the part shown in Fig. 1, being a view takenas'incheated by line 2--2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3-is alongitudinal detailed sectional view of the. device provided by my invention showing parts in operated or gripping position. Fig. 4 is a trans verse sectional view taken as indicated. by line 4-4 on Fig. 3, and Fig.5 is a'fragment'ary view showing a part of the mechanism illustrated in,

Fig. 3 with the parts arrangedinthe released position.- g i p The work holder provided by my invention is, applicable generally to spindles such as are found' in lathes, and for sake of example I will refer to the invention as being applicable, generally, to work holders, whereas other features make the invention particularlysuited for use on ho1-. low spindles. Forsake of example I will refer to the device as being applied to a hollow' lathe spindle, it being understood, of course, thatsuch reference is not to be construed as limiting the broader aspects of the invention. The device of the invention may be used to advantage on asolid spindle lathe.

The device of the prevent invention. includes, generally, a body l0 applicable to the spindles, shown projecting from the head H of alathe, av head I l on the forward end of the body to carry the collet l2, a compression ring l3 slidable in the body l0 to engage and operate the collet l2, a working sleeve 14 surrounding thebody, meansl5 for operating or shifting the working sleeve I4, an abutment member H; on the bod'yprovid ing an adjustable abutment shoulder, anda plu-' rality of dogs I! supported on the compression sleeve guided by the body and operated by the.

working sleeve to act between the compression member and the compression sleeve so that they operate the compression sleeve to actuate the collet. q

The body It! i the principal part or base 818? ment of the mechanism and is in the formof a tubular member having an'innerend portion Zil applicable to the spindle of the lathe and an outer end portion 2| which serves to support or carry various other parts of the mechanism; as will be hereinafter described. 7 a

The inner end portion 20 of; thebody is somewhat larger than the outer end portion-and' is provided with an internal screwthre 'li Wire,-

ceive the thread of the lathe spindle. The thread 22 is a'coarse or heavy thread made to fit the thread of the spindle on which the device is to be used. In practice an internal shoulder 23 may be provided in the body at the inner end of the thread. 22 to form an abutment to receive the end of the lathe spindle. In the case illustrated the extreme inner end of the body portion 20 is provided with a flange 24 whichserves as a means by which the body "eanbe conveniently engaged for the purpose of applying itto-"Or rem'oVing it from the lathe spindle. The exterior of the inner ,body portion 2!] beyond the flange 24 is threaded u as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 to carry the abutment the form of a straight tubular .part projecting forward from the inner end portion andls' 45: wt m... and 34 from the forward end of the collet to a point close to the rear end of the tubular part. This divides the collet into a plurality of fingerlike segments and gives the collet flexibility, enabling it to be compressed'onto work arranged in it. The opening through the collet may correspond in size with the opening through the spindle or it may even be large than the opening in the spindle. I

" .iTh'e enlargernent 35 of'ltl' fe colletihasia forward taperedsuiface 3! adapted to fit inithe tapered 7 socket 33 and a. rearward tapered surface 38' aiiapted to cooperate with the compression sleeve 4-3. it is to be noted from the drawings that the tapered surfaces 31 and 38 of the enlargement J 35iof the collet l2 are pitched inopposite directions, that is, the surface 31 pitches forward and concentric therewith. The openingor There 25,; 1

, commodate'an enlargement *21on the [forward endofth'e eompressionsleevea p A plurality of longitudinally 'disposed and cir cumferentially 'spa'cedguide-Ways 28 are providedf'in the body portionj'2-l to 'receive and guide ,th'edogs l'l. In practice the number of -dogs employed mayvar'y, in 'whic'hcase the number-of guideways 28 in the body will correspondingly vary. "In most instanoesitis desirable to employ three dogs, in whichcase it employ three guideways 28 "spaced 120 apart around the body. 'The guideways extend completely through the part 2|, that is, radially from its inner to its outer surfaces and are made sufficiently long to ll-roperlyaccommodate the dogs [I as will be hereinafter "described. "The guidew'ays'are provided primarily to "accommodate and guide the dogs l'"l,"their principal function be'ing to confine the dog and guide them so that "they operate pro erly in combinationwiththe-other parts, as will be"hereinafterdescribed. The 'OlltBIjOf *forward end portion of the body part E21 externally threaded "as shown in Figs. 3 and "5 to receive the head l- I which is applied to'theiorwardend-o'f the bo'dy. I 1 g The head H is applied to the forward end of thefb'ody and serves to -'carry or support the collet I 25. The head is in the form of a sleeve s'crewthrealc led onto the 'forwardend oi the body andis provided immediately beyond the forward end of the body with an inwardly projecting flange 30 and is also provided *with a rearwardly projecting collar 31 whichprojects or extends "over the body portion I beyond the forward threaded portion to serve as a retainer fo the dog H The head H is applied firmly to the-forwardv end of the body portion 2'l so that it is, in effect; a 'rij gidor continuous part of the "body, the structure'having be'en divided intothe body and head as separate parts mainly to facilitate manufacture and assembly. flange 30 on the forward end of the head 2| "has. a bevelled or 'con'ically i'shaped socket :33 :formed into it which receives and holds the collet :12.

The collet l 2 is a tubular device including; gen. erally, a tubular part 32! :arranged withinthecompressionsleeve 13 and an enlarged: part $5 at its 'forward'end fitting 'ataperedxsocket 33 of the head II and adapted to be en'g'aged iby ar'id' to cooperatewith the compression sleeve l a. Iihe collet is split or divided longitudinally by e. 5pm rality' of cuts 36 which extencl' through the parfii The inwardly projecting inward whereasthesurface 38 pitches rearward and inward, the pitches or inclinations of the surface being in opposite directions.

fTh'ecompressionsleeve I 3 is" slidably carried in the 'bore25fdfthe body f0 so that it closes or fits over' the guideways' '28 in the body and forms a supportonwhi'chfth'e dogs I! rest. The forward endiportion of the "compressionsleeve l3-is en large'd at 2"! to form a tapered socket "fillprovided in the forward end of the compresslonsleeve to acconrmo'datethe enlargement 3';5"0f the collet and to form a rearwardly facing shoulder ll against which the forward ends of. the dogs -1 bear-Avi "T *Theworls'ing sleeve- H1 surrounds the body 10 anilfin effect, iofmsadl'ousing for the various working parts. The inner end portion '42 of the work-mg 'sleeve 'il l i-s fslidabl-y supported any-the exteriorwffthe abutmenfimember 'ffi while the forward 'errd portion 43 of the working sleeve i M isslidably supported on the exterior of the head H. This provifies bearing support for the working s'leeve at betl-i ends thereof and efiectively seals the mechanism against foreign matter that would other-wise find its way into theparts. where the 'do'gs'foperate.

-- Z[ he' bore' 44 'at the inner end portion '42 of the sleeve M which slidably receiveslt'he abutmeht.

member T6 is somewhat larger in -diarneter th'an the forwardepmrtion 13 orthesl eve 1'4 which projects ever the dogs so that there is alshoulder 46' forrn'ei b'etween 'th'e sleeve portions 42 and fl. This s'hou'l'der'" 4 6 is inolined or pitche'dsoth'at lit extend's outwardly and'rearwariily and-is ,thepart oftheworking sleeve I M whichcooperates with the -dogs to operate them when the sleeve is-013 eralted. The slelev'e I being -mounted asl' 'ereinabove described is sihiftabl .lQngitudin'alLy or the other parts between a pos'ition' s'uc'h :as :is shown in Fig. 5 and a position such as is shown mag.- 3, and the sleeve ma'yitur'n relative to the ather parts although brdinarily the :pressures =on r it :are suchfthat it revolves "with the oth'er part.

Thelm eansltr for operating the"working sleeve M maywargy; depending upoii "the particular in stallation' orsituation in which the device isiused." In the Fsi'mp'le dorm ioffthe invention illustrated in the drawings aryolrezfin surrounds the inrrer'rend portion o'ffth'e workihg sleeve; yoke has'an' ear 5'! connected t'o a mounting fixture 52=by a ivot pin "53 p I "The fiXture 1:52 is ada ted to be applied to a br'aeke't fl or to any stationary part of the lathe ihead' =At a :poilit rdiametrioa'lly opposite the ear 5| the yoke has' a projecting ban dle1 55 which; in :practic'e,.. is shaped andmroporv .l willfibetun: derstood from'an eifamiriation of-Eigsil fand 2 the drawing how the yoke can be shifted by means of the handle 55 to move it relative to'the erated or swung the sleeve 4 is moved longitudinally relative to the other parts of the device.

The abutment member I6 is carried on the body and is, in effect, a part of the body. This member is in the form of a ring screw-threaded on the portion 20 of the body -||l.- The exterior of the member I5 is finished to slidably carry the inner end portion 42 of the sleeve l4 and the extreme inner end of the member I6 is provided with a radially projecting flange 60 which carries set screws 5| whereby the member Hi can be effectively set in any desired position or adjustment relative to the body. The forward end portion of the member l5 is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 62 which slidably passe the forward portion 2| of the body I and which has its forward face 63 pitched and finished, to form an abutment face against which the rear ends of the dogs operate. The abutment face 63 is pitched inwardly and forward so that the rear ends of the dogs upon being moved inwardly against the face 63 are forced forward in the guideways 28.

The dogs H, where several are employed, are alike in construction and operation. Each dog has a forward or nose portion 10 adapted to bear forwardly against the shoulder 4| of the compression sleeve |3, has a radially outwardly projecting ear portion 1 lwhich may engage the interior of the collar 3| of the head II, has a rearwardly projecting body I2 and has a tail 13 which projects rearwardly and radially outward to bear against the abutment shoulder 63 and to cooper-,

.guideways 28 so that they are free to float or move bodily in the course of operation between the positions shown in Figs. 3 and and that they do not involve or require any pivotal mountings or complicated supporting construction difficult to incorporate in a mechanism of the char-- acter under consideration.

When the mechanism above described is in the released position the working sleeve I4 is in a forward position such as is shown in Fig. 5, the forward movement being limited by stop shoulder 80 on the forward end of the head I In this position the operating shoulder 46 in the working sleeve I4 is forward and allows the end portions of the tails of the dogs to move out along the abutment shoulders 63 which in turn allows the noses of the dog to retract or move rearwardly relieving the compression sleeve so it in turn can move rearwardly and relieve the collet so it is free to expand to an open position.

Work to be gripped is arranged in the collet while the collet is relieved or open, as just described, and while the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 5. To set or grip the work the operator moves the handle 55 so that the yoke 50 is operated, causing the working sleeve M to be moved rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 3. In the course of this operation the operating shoulder 46 engages the outer portions of the tails 13.forcing them inwardly along the abutment shoulders 63. Since the abutment shoulders 63 are pitched forward and inward as clearly shown in the drawings, the

dogs are bodily thrust forward as their tail.por-

tions are forced inward. As the do s move forward the nose portions 10 engage the shoulder 4| of the compression sleeve causing the compression sleeve to be forced forward so that the socket 45 of the compression sleeve crowds the enlargement of the collet forward into the socket 33 in the head II with the result that the collet-is compressed onto the work.

It is to be noted that during the closing oper ation the ears of the dogs are located within the collar portion 3| of the head so-that the dogs are confined to properly cooperate with'the compre'ssionsleeve. It is alsoto be noted that when the working sleeve l4 reaches its final position, as shown in Fig. 3, the outer ends of the tails 13 have passed off of the shoulder 46 and to whichthe sleeve I3 is thrust forward through the action above described and consequently the amount to which the collet is compressed, will depend, in practice, upon the spacing of the abutment shoulder 63 and the shoulder 4| of the compression sleeve B. By my invention I provide for adjustment of this spacing by threading the abutment. member IS on the body l0. When the parts are properly set or adjusted so that the collet has the desired gripping action the abutment member I6 is set in position by tightening the set screws 6 I which tighten the blocks 6 a under them against the body l0.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art, or fall within th scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A work holding device for use on a hollow spindle including, a tubular body to be applied to the spindle and having a lateral opening to carry a dogand a tapered end opening, a tubular collet carried by the body and having a tapered part bearing in said end opening, and means for operating the collet including a compression sleeve slidably carried in the body to operate the collet and completely closing the inner end of the lateral opening, a working sleeve surrounding the body and operable relative thereto, and a dog carried in the opening and operated by the working sleeve to actuate the-compression sleeve, the compression sleeve having a tapered part engaging the collet to force it into the tapered opening of the body.

2. A work holding device for use on a hollow spindle including, a tubular body to be applied to the spindle and having a lateral opening to carry a dog and a tapered end opening, a tubular collet carried by the body and having an outer tapered part bearing in said end opening, and means for operating the collet including, an abutment member carried by the body, a working sleeve surrounding the body and operable relative thereto and covering the outer end of the,

4+ aseaece thaopenine' perated. by he working; ev t act: between the. abutment member and com-pres.-

sion sleeve so: the compression sleeve operates; the collet, the: collet; having; an inner tapered part. pitched opposite to. the. outer tapered part and the. compression sleeve. having a'tapered for.- warct endcooperativelyengaging. the. inner tapered. part, of. the collet. p

3; A work holding device for use.- on a. hollowto. the spindle andhaving, a. lateral opening: and.

positely pitched inner and outer end portions.

said outer portion being seated in the tapered opening of the bQd'Y'a; and means. for operating, the collet including. an. abutment member car- 'riedby the body, a workingsleeve surrounding.

spindle. including, a tubular body to: be,- applied: 130%- 10. the. body andoperable relative thereto and. coverthespindle; a: head mounted on the: forward end ofthe bccly and having. a tapered soolret,v a tubular collet. carried by the body and having asingle projectionwith. anouter tapered pant engaged in the socket, the. collet; projection hav ing. an inner tapered. part. pitched opposite to. the outer tapered part; and means-r01: operating the collet including, a{ Working sleeve surrounding the. body and. head to; bearthereon; andoperablerelative thereto, a compression sleeve slida-blyno supported the; body and having a. tapered socket, inits outer end receiving. the inner tapered part of. the collet and a. dog. operated by the: sleeve to actuate the collet.

in workholdimg; dem'ce for use; on, a. hollow spindle includ g a tubular body to: be applieding the opening therein, a. compression. sleeve in the. body engaging the. colletto-operateit. and

. covering, the opening; in the bodyand having; a.

tapered. socket. in. its forwardend receiving: the.-

15 inner end portion of the collet projection, and a.

loose. dog; confined in the opening and, operated.

bythe working sleeve to; act. between. the. abutment memberand compression sleeve so the compressionsleeve operates the collet, the dog,

having; a. forwardly projecting-nose portion ena ing the compression sleeve and a rearward and radially outwardly projecting. tail portion cooperating, with the. abutment member andworkingsleeve.

. FRANK E-.. FILLING. 

